Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Our gazes lock, and I scoot forward as much as I can manage, hoping to obstruct the frats’ view while he braves an escape. Alexei’s situated between Seth and me. If he could get free and remove Seth’s gag, maybe we’ll stand a chance against these bastards.
“What did you stick me with?” Cody asks Syphor.
“A sedative that should be taking effect soon enough. It won’t harm you, but it will make this easier for both of us once I have you under my control.”
Fuck… He already has these mind-control abilities in Finnegan’s body. I can only imagine what he’d do with Cody’s powers.
“Matteo, can you hear me?”
It’s Cody’s voice…inside my head. I freak out a little, a primal response to the what-the-fucking-hell moment.
“It’s okay. I’m stalling,” Cody tells me. “I know what Alexei’s doing with his knife. And Luke will create a distraction in a moment. I don’t know if this will work, but I’ll try and link you to Syphor, see if I can get you inside him like we did in the church. If we can distract him long enough, Alexei might be able to break Seth free, and then we can get out.”
I wonder how I’m supposed to respond, so I try to just speak to him in my mind. “Can you hear me?”
“Yes, did you understand what I said?”
“I did, but how will that work?”
“I don’t know that it will, but we don’t have any other options. Just be ready. We won’t have much of a shot. Whatever they gave me is already affecting my powers.”
“I’ll be ready.”
If we can pull this off, it’ll be a real Hail Mary. I hadn’t realized Cody even had enough power to do as much as communicate with me like this, which only stresses the serious trouble we’re in if Syphor manages to control him.
I’m tempted to check how Alexei’s progressing, but I can’t draw any attention to him.
“Yes, you’re almost there,” Syphor says, slapping Cody’s cheek gently.
He turns his attention to Preston. “I need a hit,” he tells him before lurching at him, seizing a kiss. Preston keeps Cody pinned down as he and this entity in Finnegan share a wild, tongue-filled, make-out session. Something about the sexual energy must intensify their powers, like what happens with Luke and Brad, and like whatever happened between Alexei and me during that spell.
I’m waiting on fucking pins and needles as Seth continues struggling, desperate to save his friend.
Cody’s lying so still, I’m worried he might have passed out after reaching out to me. Maybe this plan isn’t gonna go through after all.
Then I hear a sudden, “Now!” ring through my mind, and everything goes dark.
I’m disoriented for a moment before feeling something wet and forceful. I suddenly realize I’m kissing Preston.
“What are you doing?” Syphor’s not saying this in his head, but speaking it out loud as he pulls away from Preston. “Get out of there.”
The light over us explodes, then one by one the others in the basement, until it’s pitch black. Luke’s doing, I assume.
“You fuckers,” the voice shouts in my mind. “I’ll fucking destroy you, then go after the ones you care about most!”
“Go fuck yourself,” I reply in my thoughts, just as I notice I’m able to move Finnegan’s hands.
“Goddamn you!” Syphor shouts.
Bright-white lights explode through the space, and at first I figure it might be him ejecting me again, but then I realize the Alpha Alpha Mus are turning on their phone lights.
Through Finnegan’s eyes, I see him turn to Alexei as he reaches for Seth’s gag. Yes, yes! Once Seth’s free, we’ll finally have the upper hand.
“Get out!”
Everything goes black again, and it’s like getting rear-ended. There’s a jerk, and as I reopen my eyes, I can hardly focus. Did it work? Did Alexei get to Seth?
But as I refocus, I discover Alexei hovering in the air, his arms stretched out, the knife in his hand. I scan the room, trying to make sense of what’s happening. I’m still tied to the tool rack, and across the room, Preston has his hand in the air, clearly the one keeping Alexei floating midair.
Finnegan—Syphor—is clutching the edge of the bar, hunched over. I imagine Syphor’s having to recover from my intrusion into his mind. He chuckles. “I know that’s you who did that,” he tells Cody. “That was a clever attempt, wasn’t it? Guess you’re still a little too strong.” He shoots Alexei a glare.
“Alexei, are you hurt?” I ask.
He turns to me. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“You won’t be fine,” Syphor says, approaching.
“Really? What are you gonna do about it?” Alexei asks.
Syphor’s expression twists up.
Oh, fuck, Alexei, don’t get yourself killed.
I imagine, like Cody, he figures if he buys some time, Cody might be able to get me back into Finnegan’s body, but it’s a risky move, one I don’t want him to take.